This program will complete the initial WMA site development on 1,500 acres of land acquired in the Accelerated Prairie Grassland WMA and Accelerated Wetland WMA Acquisition programs to meet standards for inclusion in the Outdoor Recreation System. This program will also accelerate the restoration, enhancement and management of at least 5,180 acres of native prairie vegetation on existing public lands.
This appropriation funded 283 projects totaling 21,953 acres. The two largest types of enhancement were 112 woody removal projects totaling 10,160 acres and 134 prescribed burns totaling 10,082 acres. Additionally, we seeded 30 sites totaling 1386 acres, put in infrastructure for conservation grazing of 236 acres on 3 sites, conducted 3 oak savanna enhancements totaling 42 acres, and treated 47 acres of invasive species on 2 sites.
To support and assist central Minnesota artists at various stages in their careers by providing them with opportunities to work one-on-one with a professional artist over a one or two year time frame to advance their skills as an artist.
To highlight arts and cultural heritage at the Sherburne County Fair. Funds will be used to create a history book chronicling 125 years of the Sherburne County Fair, improve the lighting in the fine arts display area, and create a butterfly house to educate visitors about the dwindling population of Minnesota's State Butterfly, the Monarch.
To provide financial assistance to schools nonprofit organizations and units of government to expose students of all ages to a unique arts experience that ties in to a lesson plan curriculum or a process that builds community.
To provide financial assistance to schools nonprofit organizations and units of government to expose students of all ages to a unique arts experience that ties in to a lesson plan curriculum or a process that builds community.
Funds are to be used to protect, enhance and restore water quality in lakes, rivers and streams and to protect groundwater and drinking water. Activities include structural and vegetative practices to reduce runoff and retain water on the land, feedlot water quality projects, SSTS abatement grants for low income individuals, and stream bank, stream channel and shoreline protection projects. For the fiscal year 2012, BWSR awarded 13 local governments with funds to complete 143 projects. More information is available in the detail reports below.
